Auxiliary air-inlet device for use with internal-combustion engines



Nov. 30,1926." 7 p 1.609363 s. w. DRAKE v AUXILIARY AIR INLET DEViCE FOR USE WITH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March 4, 1926 In YENTO'R 3.1M DRAKE ZBY N ATTYS.

Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

means were!) STATES PATENT, orries SILAS WILFREI) DRAKE, OE PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ANDREW WILLIAM GILES PRATO, OF PORTSMOUTH, EN GLAND, AND ONE-THIRD T BURY EVANS, 0F SOUTHSEA, ENGLAND.

AUXILIARY AIR-INLET DEVICE FOB/USE .WITH INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.-

Application filed March 4, 1926, Serial No. 92,328, and in Great Britain October 8, 1925.

This invention relates to air-inlet devices of the type which are applied to the induction pipes of internal combustion engines for the purpose of regulating the quality '5 of the mixture of vapour and air thereby enabling economy in fuel consumption to be effected.

The object of the invention is to provide an extremely eiiicacious device of the character referred to which differs from an ordinary open air-inlet in that it produces an elasticity in the flow of incoming air, thereby preventing sudden inrushes of cold air andimmediate weakening of the mixture of constant qualit-y supplied by the carbureter and consequently sudden loss of power; the influx of air being rendered gradual and increasing in volume proportionately to the vacuum produced in the device by demands made by the engine. A further object is to providea device of the kind referred to which will nevertheless be simple in con struction and capable of being cheaply manufactured.

W'ith the above objects in view, the invention consists in the provision of an auxiliary air-inlet device comprising a closed casing or partly hollow block of material having suitable means, such as a nipple, for its attachment to an induction pipe of an internal combustion engine and an air-inlet regulating valve, the casing having, internally an elongated chamber or an elongated chamber and a series of compartments; the dividing wall of each of which has a perforation to enable air to flow through the elongated chamber and the series of compartments to the induction pipe.

Reference being had to the drawings here with Fig. 1 is a view, in section, illustrating my improved device; Fig. 2 is'a view taken vertically and transversely through the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a face view of a modification; Fig. 4 is a view, in section, taken vertically and transversely through the device on the line X-X shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view, in section, illustrating means whereby a valve constituting a modified part of the device, can be operated.

The improved air-inlet device comprises a casing 13 in the wall of which is secured an internally screw-threaded nipple 14 in opening 26 and a tapered extremity 20; the

valve being capable of retention in any de sired position, to which it has been adjusted,

by a set-screw 17. An exteriorly screwthreaded nipple 16, projecting from the wall of the casing communicates with one end of an elongated chamber 10.

In Fig. 1, the efficiency of the elongated chamber or passage is increased by a plurality of supplementary compartments indicated by the numerals 1 to 9 and 11; the first being in communication with the at mosphere through the openings 19 and 26 in the valve 15, and the last, in communication with the opening 12 of the nipple 16. The compartments 1 to 9 and 11, are formed by horizontal and vertical partitions 22 and an encompassing wall 39, said wall constituting, with the outer wall of the casing 13, the elongated chamber 10. Each compartment has openings 23 communicating with an adacent compartment and the compartment 9 has an opening 24 communicating with the elongated chamber 10; there being a wall or stop 27 in said chamber.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the elongated chamber, designated in these views, by the numeral 41, takes a tortuous course through a block 42; the compartments 43, which, as before stated, enhance the function of the device, being spaced throughout the length of the chamber. One end of the chamber terminates in a compartment to which the inlet of air through the opening 44 can be regulated by the valve 15, and the other end of the chamber terminates in a compartment into which projects the nipple 16. In addition to traversing a tortuous course, the passage is rendered still more tortuous, and thereby more effective, by entering one compartment near an extremity thereof which is furthest removed, from an adjacent compartment, for instance, as shown in Fig. 4. The compartments can be conveniently closed at their respective ends by closures 45 recessed into the block 42.

A modification in the form of the valve is shown in Fig. 5, whereby it is rendered capable of operation from any desirable position on an automobile by well-known mechanism comprising a wire 34 operating in conjunction with suitable fittings 35, 86; the

valve taking the form of a cylindrical part having a tapered end 33, between which and the fitting 35, is a spring to normally retain the valve in lowered position upon its seat.

The device is fitted to the induction pipe of an engine by simply perforating and tapping its wall to accommodate the nipple 16.

lVhen a sudden vacuum is created within the device by the engine, the vacuum is not momentarily dissipated by a sudden inrush of air, thereby suddenly cooling the mixture, owing to the small amount of air permitted to pass the valve; but as the demand made by the engine increases the air will enter with increasing velocity until suilicient air is entering to maintain a mixture of the quality desired to effect a saving of gasolene. The elasticity of air, within the elongated compartment, is enhanced by the plurality or supplementary compartments; the lower ones, and especially the elongated compartment being first exhausted of air and the vacuum being gradually destroyed by air from the upper compartments.

The air, entering through the opening 26 of the valve 15, enters, successively, the compartments lie 9 inclusive, and then through the elongated chamber 10 into the compartment 11 and to the opening 12 in the niple 16. The amount of air which it is desirable to admit into the device can be regulated by adjustment of the valve; the adjustment varying according to climatic changes.

I claim:

1. An auxiliary air-inlet device for use with internal combustion engines comprising an elongated chamber situated between an air-inlet opening containing a valve and a screw-threaded nipple having an air-outlet opening and a series of compartments intermittently spaced along said passage between said inlet and outlet openings.

2. An auxiliary air-inlet device for use with internal combustion engines, comprising a block of metal, an elongated chamber formed therein, a series of compartments in termittently spaced along said chamber and sad chamber and compartments being situatedbetween an air-inlet opening containing a valve, and a screw-threaded nipple hav ing an air-outlet opening.

23. An auxiliary air-inlet device for use with internal combustion engines comprising a block of metal, an elongated chamber therein a series of compartments intermittently spaced along said chamber, said elongated chamber entering each of said ompartments at an end which is opposite to that at which it'proceeds to the next compartment of the series, and said chamber and compartments being situated between an airinlet opening containing a valve and a screwthreaded nipple having an air-outlet opening, and closures for said compartments.

SILAS WILF'RED DRAKE. 

